AceLoved
50 post s
27-Jun-2008
3:40 PM
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Hi Everyone,
I am having some real problems with flys, spray and Hot Weather. My new horse does not let me spray him with fly spray. I have been putting spray on him with a rag. He is not to keen with this but he does let me put it on him. I would like to mist him down because of the heat but he does not like this either. I have sprayed him with the hose but he gets so aggressive toward the hose that I do not feel really safe. He wouldn'g harm me on purpose but he does not think of anything but the hose and goes after it. He seems to be afraid of plastic sprayers and small plastic buckets. He let me sponge him down but he was not happy about it. He seems to be much more sensative to touch then my mule or quarterhorse.
Suggestions please !
Last Edited on 27-Jun-2008 3:52 PM
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Jeanne57
10 post s
27-Jun-2008
4:47 PM
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Hi! Maybe I can help you out with this. I learned this from the Clinton Anderson DVD's I have and added one or two of my own things. One of the things he covers is exactly your problem with the spray. My Solly doesn't like it either, but he figured out quickly that is much easier to take it than work his butt off. Basically you are going to desensitize him with the spray. Put him on a lunge line. Get a sprayer and fill it with water. Rub him all over his body with it. If he is fearful of it. Make him "Move his feet" as Clinton would say. Stop him, try it again. If he starts doing the same thing, make him move his feet. If he smart and sounds like he is, he'll soon let you touch him all over his body with it. Once you start touching him and you get no response and he/she stands there nicely, take it away and praise him. Approach and retreat. Do this many times. He'll figure out its easier to stand there than work as horses are basically lazy. Then spray the horse with it. If he bounces around, make him go. Start with water as it contains no chemicals and won't hurt him. Start on the legs first. Stand clear aways so you dont get hurt. Keep repeating this. Approach and retreat. If hes a good boy and stands there, take it away and let him rest and praise him. Wait a few seconds and do it again. Keep doing this method until you can spray him anywhere and he stands like a stone. He should start licking and chewing and let you be boss. I did this method with Solly with a tarp. Now I can put it all over him. I can put it over his head and walk him around. Didnt take but one or two sessions to get him to accept it. For the hose, cut a length of it if you can, four or five feet and do exactly the same thing. When it comes time to hose him off or bathe him, have alot of hose available and get ready to get wet. Do the same thing. If he bounces around, make him move his feet. If he stands like a stone and accepts it, take it away for a few second. He should start licking and chewing. Once he does that, pull the sprayer or hose away, let him rest and go for it again. Hope this helps and makes sense! Take care, Jeanne =)
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old-e-nuff
148 post s
28-Jun-2008
7:49 AM
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Have a neighbor who was here when I was fly spraying Rheba that was amazed that she didn't move a muscle. Asked me to try with her three year old QH who moves all over the place. Watched her do it first and saw the problem immediately. Every time the horse moved she stopped spraying and spent time lining him up again. She had been unknowingly rewarding him for moving. I like clicker training and most horses catch on quick. So by rewarding the smallest stop, with a click ( I should say a cluck, since I no longer carry a clicker), treat and cessation of the spray, had this smart little extrovert standing still in no time. With your horse though since he actually seems fearful enough to be aggressive about the spray, would do like Mark Rashid and have him loose in a round pen or paddock where he is able to flee and does not try to fight. Using approach and retreat, and clicker training always saves time in helping the horse understand, would do like the previous post suggested and when he moves away actively encourage him. Would suggest a rope to throw out instead of a lunging whip, as the motivation needs to be very brief. Be very careful, this horse has shown that he will fight if frightened and unable to get away. Tina
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brewbren
246 post s
28-Jun-2008
4:30 PM
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This isn't really a suggestion, but I just wanted to provide some encouragement that it can really get better. When I first got Curly last year, she was scared to death of fly spray. I would try to spray her in her stall and she would move as far away from me as possible. We worked on it slowly all summer. She would get sprayed periodically. I would show her the bottle, let her smell it, and then spray her. She eventually started getting better. When we started up again this year, there was no problem at all. Quite honestly, I think with the two of us it wasn't just the fly spray. I think that she needed to take some time to learn to trust me. Lots of things that were "iffy" last year have gotten better including the fly spray, bridling, mounting, and even letting me touch her ears to get the dirt out. Anyway, find the way that works for you. I'm sure you'll be able to fix this.
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Determined
254 post s
30-Jun-2008
10:00 AM
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I agree with brewbren - some of it just comes down to the fact that he doesn't know you well enough to completely trust yet. I had the same problems with Wish last year. Although I do think part of it was that he didn't like the smell of the fly spray. I ended up changing brands because the brand I was using was oily and the dirt really clung to his white coat. I changed to a water-based spray, which helped the dirt issue, and, surprisingly, Wish didn't object as much to it.
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Izabella
84 post s
30-Jun-2008
10:18 AM
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I have a similar problem with one of our mares, the other mare and the gelding are so relieved to get rid of the bugs that they stand in their paddocks waiting for it... the other one... Well basically you have to catch her, halter her and hold her while someone else sprays her and if she has seen that you've already been out with the orange spray bottle then forget catching her! We've even tried it with a rope halter to help but it hasn't made much difference. I think I'm going to try it with water in the bottle a few times and just work with her but as she weighs 1600lbs and can be pretty... spunky... I get nervous when she starts to pull back and tries to take off. She's a good girl but she's so funny about it. My parents took care of the "kids" while we were gone and they were mostly fine but couldn't get any spray on her so she is covered in bug bites. We also have a spray bottle that sprays both when you squeeze and let go (really handy for spraying down a 1 ton horse!) So I might just find a regular one to work with... she seems worse about it since we got that one.
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RedsMom
886 post s
30-Jun-2008
12:14 PM
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Red isn't too fond of the fly spray either. He used to be much worse, but we've been working on it and he's getting better. His main problem is his face . . . he HATES having fly spray applied to his face. I used to spray some on my hand and then try to wipe it on his face, but he did not like that at all. BUT, he *loves* his face brush! So, I learned to spray the face brush with fly spray until it's nice and damp, and then just brush his face! Works like a charm! ;op
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~RedsMomWear your brain bucket!!! :oD
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redhedstudio
11 post s
30-Jun-2008
1:18 PM
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Hi there, My Red doesn't love fly spray, either, but he's ok with it on his body. He used to throw his head when I wiped it on his face with a small folded rag, but I realized that if I stopped pulling his head down with the halter, and simply followed his movement he would eventually put his head back down and take it. Patience, persistence, and then more persistence... and when you're done with that, more patience.... I did find some very handy fly spray wipes that are working wonderfully-they are smaller and more efficient than folded-up rags.
Last Edited on 30-Jun-2008 1:19 PM
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dog-shrink
282 post s
1-Jul-2008
2:25 AM
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My two weren't keen at first but now mainly stand still. I use it on a cloth and wipe their faces, most animals (and people) wouldn't like a spray to the face. I think mine now realize that it keeps the flies off (or am I endowing them with more cognitive abilities than they have?!!!)To be fair, they are not reactive horses, I know others would go ballistic with even water spray.
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Bitless - not witless!
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AceLoved
51 post s
2-Jul-2008
4:25 PM
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Thank you ALL !
I really appreciate the info. I know that with everyones' input I can get past this. I will let you know how we come out in due time. I needed the reminder to take my time (and Jethro's time on this.
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